Looking Ahead highlights runners of interest across Australia and New Zealand. Whether they are an exceptionally well-bred or high-priced runner early in their career chasing maiden success, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse that has trialled particularly well, we’ll aim to give you something to follow.
Three Wednesday runners will be seeking to break their maidens this week, including a blueblooded Godolphin filly at Canterbury and a grey gelded relation to Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) debuting at Bendigo.
Canterbury Park, Race 1, 1:25pm AEST, E Security Group Handicap, $60,000, 1200m
Unhinged, 3-year-old colt (Snitzel x Tints {Tycoon Ruler})
Well-related Snitzel colt Unhinged leads a trio for the Waller brigade in the opening event at Canterbury on Wednesday, resuming after two trials for the operation this season. As a juvenile, he was placed twice in good company, splitting subsequent stakes performer Katoto (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and subsequent G1 JJ Atkins Plate winner Tron Bolt (Toronado {Ire}) at Kembla Grange, then running third to the latter at Kensington. If he can follow the formlines, he could be one to watch this spring.
Unhinged is the product of dam Tints (Tycoon Ruler), a 12-time winner between 1000 metres and 2150 metres in Queensland, being bred up following the exploits of her G1 Surround Stakes-winning daughter Hinged (Worthy Cause). Finishing fourth or better a total of 10 times at Group 1 level, Hinged entered stud last year, unfortunately missing to Alabama Express.
Snitzel | Image courtesy of Arrowfield Stud
Tints descends from European blue hen Green Valley (Fr) (Val De Loir {Fr}), whose five stakes winners are headed by G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Green Dancer (USA) and multiple Group winner Val Danseur (USA) (Nijinsky {Can}).
Bred by Brae Sokolski and raced by his YES Bloodstock entity with long-time associate Ozzie Kheir, Unhinged has younger brothers by Maurice (Jpn) and Extreme Choice hitting the track in the next couple of years. Tints was given the season off in 2025.
Canterbury Park, Race 2, 2pm AEST, Headwater @ Vinery Stud Handicap, $100,000, 1250m
Piedmont, 3-year-old filly (Pinatuno {Ire} x Guelph {Exceed And Excel})
A well-bred filly trained by Ciaron Maher, Piedmont (Pinatubo {Ire}) will be stepping out for the second time after a debut third in the 1200-metre $100,000 Super Maiden won by Phantom Major (Snitzel) earlier in August. The runner-up in that race, Queen's Major (Anders), took out last week's Warwick Farm Super Maiden by a fair margin over 1300 metres, and the additional 50 metres on Wednesday looks to suit Piedmont well.
Pinatubo | Standing at Darley
A homebred for Godolphin, Piedmont is the eighth foal out of Guelph (Exceed And Excel), who requires little introduction. The four-time Group 1 winner produced the dual Group-winning stallion Encryption and G3 Birthday Card Stakes victress Emanate (Lonhro) with her first two foals, and her newly turned 4-year-old Barbarossa (Too Darn Hot {GB}) has twice just missed the placings at Group level.
A daughter of G1 Sires' Produce Stakes victress Camarilla (Elusive Quality {USA}), Guelph is a half to the late G2 Todman Stakes-winning sire Ghibellines as well as Dazzler (More Than Ready {USA}), dam of Bivouac. Guelph's second dam Camarena (Danehill {USA}), the G1 Queensland Derby-winning full sister to the dam of Sepoy and Mulaazem, is also the grandam of last season's G3 Ottawa Stakes victress Medicinal (Brazen Beau).
Guelph delivered a filly by Anamoe in 2025 and returned to the stallion the same season, with a due date in mid October.
Bendigo, Race 1, 1pm AEST, Bendigo Mazda Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1000m
Salamanca Six, 3-year-old gelding (So You Think {NZ} x Appian Way {Exceed And Excel})
A grey son of So You Think (NZ), Salamanca Six only has to face off against a small field on his raceday debut at Bendigo for Dominic Sutton. The gelding has won both of his jump-outs this preparation at Flemington, beating out subsequent G3 Quezette Stakes victress Natural Fling (Home Affairs) in one of them. He also ran second to progressive colt Buggsy (Harry Angel {Ire}) in an autumn jump-out when a much more raw individual.
Salamanca Six is the third foal out of Appian Way (Exceed And Excel), a city-winning daughter of four-time Group 3-winning mare Avenue (Anabaa {USA}). Avenue comes from a wonderful family, being a full sister to twice Group 1 winner Virage De Fortune - whose sire son Barbados notched his fourth stakes winner this year with Listed Oaklands Plate winner Pretty Baby.
Salamanca Six as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Virage De Fortune's most exciting legacy is kept going through her granddaughter Shadow (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}), who scored Kate Nivison Coolmore Stud's Breeder Of The Year award after producing G1 Flight Stakes winner Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) and G3 Canonbury Stakes winner Hidrix (Extreme Choice) in the 2025/26 racing season.
Avenue's half-sister Glasnost (Red Ransom {USA}) is the dam of Group 3 winner Slapstick (Anabaa {USA}), herself the second dam of G3 Triscay Stakes winner Inhibitions (Zoustar).
Salamanca Six was a $275,000 purchase from Segenhoe Stud's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for Sutton Racingand Byron Rogers. Triple Crown Syndications paid $180,000 for his half-sister Via Domicia (Home Affairs) at this year's Magic Millions sale, and there is another Home Affairs half-sister to sell next year. Appian Way visited City Of Troy (USA) in 2025.
Looking Back
Private Liaison (Home Affairs) - Led for most of the trip, but disappointed by fading to fifth over the last 400 metres.
Viva Viva (Ole Kirk) - Made a brave effort late to finish fourth at Newcastle Beaumont.
